Issue Archive

"Industrial computer" is a widely used term that unfortunately can be quite ambiguous, often applied to computers that have little real advantage over commercial PCs but may outwardly appear "rugged". However, there are many applications that need a computer system that is truly built to a higher standard for reasons that include:

Windows CE (a.k.a. Windows Embedded Compact), originally released in 1996, can be an attractive alternative to the full Windows operating system offering system designers the ability to control power, size, and cost in a new product. For example, the runtime license cost of the CE operating system alone can save as much as $150 over the license cost for standard Windows.

Q: How often should my equipment make measurements? A: This question often arises when people draft plans to automatically measure a physical quantity such as temperature, pressure, acidity, liquid level, and so on. You can approach this problem in several ways, from an educated guess to a mathematical analysis of your system. The examples that follow use temperature measurements because people measure temperature more than any other physical characteristic.

By Jon Titus
Q: Should I put some sort of circuit between my sensor and an analog-to-digital converter?
A:Yes. You probably need some signal conditioning. The explanation below goes on for a bit, but stay with it and you'll understand what you need and why you need it.
Before you make any connections, get the electrical specifications for the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and for the sensor or sensors in your system. Let's assume the data-acquisition module uses a Maxim Integrated Products MAX197 12-bit ADC. This device can accept eight differential (2-wire) inputs or 16 single-ended (1-wire) inputs. Maxim's specifications show an input impedance of 21 kohms for single-ended inputs and 16 kohms for differential inputs.

Surgeons treating brain cancer face a conundrum: They can capture ultra-high-resolution images of the tumor using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or they can use ultra-precise surgical tools to remove the tumor, but they can’t do both at the same time. At least they couldn’t prior to the creation of the innovative MRI robot from the Worchester Polytechnic Institute team.

The first question generally asked about Machined Springs is how they compare with Wire Wound Springs. Commencing with this question, this review of Machined Springs will proceed. Wire Springs appeared early in the Industrial Revolution. They established their value immediately, and have not wavered from that most useful course. Certainly, enhancements in materials and manufacturing have been forthcoming, but the basic concept has not changed much. Spring wire coiled hot or cold with ends configured within the limits of coil wire has proven to be a very cost effective, industrial tool that exhibits elasticity within the bounds of known, engineering understanding. Uses range from deep ocean applications to man's reach into the universe. Finding a modern day device large or small, that does not benefit from elasticity, and particularly that provided by Wire Wound Springs, is a rare find.

Question of the Week

This week's Question: This month, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed long-awaited rules on the commercial use of small drones, requiring operators to be certified, fly only during daylight, and keep their aircraft in sight. The ruling,...